Sorry, Indies, You'll Still Need A Publisher For Xbox Live

Yesterday was a big (and at times confusing) day for Microsoft. Some exciting details about the new Xbox One console have come into focus, but there is still much we don't know.

One of the things we learned is that the divide between Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Games on Demand, and Xbox Live Indie Games will disappear (and with it growing brand confusion). Games will all be housed together, and we envision an approach similar to how Valve has structured Steam.

What won't be like Steam though, is how developers will get their content onto Microsoft's Xbox Live service. In an interview with Shack News, Microsoft general manager of Redmond Game Studios and Platforms Matt Booty confirmed that, as of now, developers will still need publisher assistance to get in front of consumers.

This is a departure from how Microsoft's competitors are approaching independent development, with Sony and Nintendo both opening the door to self-publishing. It's important to note that this decision may change between now and the Xbox One launch (and even later as the platform evolves).